Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-06-01
THOUGHTS AFTER THE BLAZE.

The fire of last week made very evident
some of the things IN which Austin is
now lacking. First and foremost is the
water supply. Under the most favorable
circumstances fire may be checked with
a limited and uncertain amount of water,
but when wind and location unite in Civ
ing the start to ire, it must burn until
everything in its way is consumed, unless
proper appliances are at hand with which
to meet it. Whether the engine here is
of value as fire extinguisher seems to
be a question upon which there is de-
cided difference of opinion. 1t will be
hard to settle this question until there is
ample water with which to test it, and
until that time it IS one of MINOR impor
tance, for without water the best engine
Is useless. A system of water works such
as Rochester, Mason City and other cities
have would solve this part of the fire
question and add immensely to the health,
beauty, convenience and prosperity of
the city. Men who invest their money in
buildings here are entitled to the protec-
tion OF their property. The welfare of
the cltyEand the prosperity of every man
in it, be he tax payer or day laborer de-
pends on the buildings and other i'm.
provements. Without protection men
cannot put their money in those buildings
and improvements. A proper water sup
ply will add much to the healthfulness OF
the city. Drinking water from wells dug
on small lots in soil saturated with the
washings from streets, alleys, cutters,
cellars, stables and outbuildings of all
kinds, is one of the gravest offenses
against health and viger that we can
commit. A supply of water from some
of our springs, or a large we'll like the
one being dug in Rochester will avoid all
this, and give us natures beverage in the
purity that nature intended. and to that
end made of the earth one vast filter, but
which is so often defeated by man, who
persists,if if possible,1n drinking something
contaminated by all manner of filth.
With water supply there should be
some attention given to making some
person or persons familiar with the fire
apparatus, its proper management,
arrangement and use. With some
one familiar with the place, use,
and putting together of the different
parts of the engine, ladders and hose,
time can be save at fire which may be
of incalculable value. It may and often
does mean the difference between a light
blaze and an extensive and destructive
fire. Some one who understands tho
management of things to direct, adds
much to the efficiency of the work of
crowd where discipline and cool headed
ness are generally conspicuous for their
absence and are bound to be unless there
is some one present fitted by GOODNESS
and knowledge to be leader for the
crowd.
Another feature which Austin has IN
common with most cities, adding much
to the danger Of fires starting and of their
continuance after starting is the proxim-
ity of sheds, barns, out buildings, wood
boxes, barrels and rubbish of all kin DIS to
the business blocks and principal build
ings. These relics of the village state
should be banished from the neighbor-
hood of buildings and blocks that have
the value, character and permanence of
city structures. They ought to go, and
cannot 60 too soon.